[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479194,"mediaKeyId","5706758-66df16acd2560cca7782e7fe828e3c6a","parentId",5706758,"title","San Antonio officials pitch $91.9 million 2026 budget for convention centers; $23.3 million in capital work proposed","audioSeconds",882,"startMs",69000,"endMs",951000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706758-66df16acd2560cca7782e7fe828e3c6a&start=69&end=951","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706758-66df16acd2560cca7782e7fe828e3c6a/thumbnail_69000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479194/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-officials-pitch-919-million-2026-budget-for-convention-centers-233-million-in-capital-work-proposed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479194-aa51c6fa483179327ac1594e6094bf90/orig.mp4?Expires=1770421702&Signature=oxNzxCRPmVLd5GZuGYsK9-r~4ljEY~BHdJY~hNrWT7kS8oXUG5lw9HhVXYG7xKDtyd5rlyrOczWUShw4XtIsifxIvKV0tebGXj-l2IzpphYkAyOHcD5te4AoNE97v1rr0TnTpnPlWDKJFbnZM9-PeTcuEOf-w9C8AQ49vewbrfEUJUhLevclbt5-MRtsq1rAGDLU4a8cKCqVLIJrm8eYZW4D90CjNN0NM38O8qrN5s~L34ouny1iVJpiqVqqC6K8cjwapVWlWz~hWU6lCAxTPivW6-gjPLHCM0X5dLhgKbYu6WX-ApsNWaEJnWUzHVgX8bLw03tDfCvgg5D0-sbRqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","City budget staff on Tuesday outlined a proposed $91.9 million fiscal 2026 spending plan for San Antonio’s convention and event facilities and said the city is proposing $23.3 million in capital improvements at the Henry B. González Convention Center and the Alamodome.

The presentations, given at a Sept. 2 budget workshop, said the city funds for those facilities are supported largely by the city’s hotel occupancy tax (HOT). Justina Tate, director of Budgets for the City of San Antonio, reported the city’s current combined HOT rate is 16.75 percent and said the city projects a 4 percent increase in collections for 2025 compared with 2024 and a further 2.6 percent increase in 2026 tied to growth in short-term rentals and stronger collection by platforms.

City staff told the council the proposed 2026 package would devote roughly $59.2 million to operations for the convention center and Alamodome. The proposed budget also includes $2.9 million for Visit San Antonio incentives, $1.4 million from the general fund for the Carver cultural center, $4.4 million for the state reimbursement program (a program that returns certain eligible municipal investments), and $23.3 million for capital projects at both facilities. Staff said the department would keep current staffing levels: 268 positions at the convention center, 70 at the Alamodome and 14 at the Carver (352 total).

Patricia Muñoz Cator, who presented the facilities’ plans and capital list, described planned 2026 projects at the convention center including $8.3 million to replace escalators and elevators; $3.9 million to renew the HVAC system; upgrades to fire panels and theater improvements; and other exhibit-hall repairs, restrooms and carpeting. At the Alamodome, staff proposed $3.3 million in capital work including storage-area upgrades, concessions and arena-area replacements plus roughly $1.5 million for HVAC and sound-system components.

Staff also proposed several revenue and fee changes tied to industry norms. The packet shows a modest increase to convention center rental rates estimated to yield about $39,000 and a proposed increase in per-ticket access fees for some ticketed events from current fees (cited in the presentation as $1–$2) to a $3–$5 range; staff said the change would align the city with prevailing industry practice and increase room-night demand.

Councilmembers asked detailed questions about the urgency, timing and prioritization of the capital projects and about how the city’s proposed investments compare with those of competing Texas markets. Several members pressed staff for written follow-up showing which projects are essential now, which could be deferred, and the financial consequences of delaying work. Councilmember Villagrán asked: “If we wait too long to invest, will we lose event cycles that are booked years in advance?” Patricia Muñoz Cator told the council that new, larger facilities in other Texas cities are expected between 2028 and 2030 and that convention planners book events three to five years ahead, creating urgency to move now.

Councilmembers also questioned assumptions behind revenue projections. Mayor (Alcaldesa) asked for more evidence demonstrating that capital investments will make San Antonio more competitive given larger investments by Dallas, Austin and Houston. City budget staff agreed to provide additional analysis and written responses on project urgency and the share of HOT revenues attributable to conventions.

Visit San Antonio representatives told the council their economic-impact research shows tourism and conventions are recovering to pre-pandemic levels. The Visit San Antonio presentation cited a record economic impact figure for 2023 and said the organization is working with local universities on annual impact studies; staff said the full impact report for 2023–2024 data will be available in November.

Councilmembers also raised operational concerns tied to major upcoming events — including traffic, construction impacts on small businesses and access for people with mobility needs — and asked staff to coordinate mitigation plans with event organizers and Visit San Antonio for large conventions and concerts. Staff said tailored transportation and event-management plans are created for large events and that some upfront event costs are advanced and later reimbursed through event re‑imbursement programs.

The council did not take formal votes on the items during the workshop. Staff committed to provide additional detail, including written prioritization of the $23.3 million in capital projects, the split of HOT revenues related to conventions, and comparisons with peer cities’ investments.

Ending: The council scheduled follow-up materials and analysis for a future meeting so members can weigh the capital priorities alongside other budget demands.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Sesión de Trabajo del Presupuesto del Consejo de la Ciudad Sep 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City budget staff on Tuesday outlined a proposed $91.9 million fiscal 2026 spending plan for San Antonio’s convention and event facilities and said the city is proposing $23.3 million in capital improvements at the Henry B. González Convention Center and the Alamodome.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479191,"City’s arts and culture office seeks sustaining support, artist grants and film incentives in 2026 budget",1042,1318000,2360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706758-66df16acd2560cca7782e7fe828e3c6a&start=1318&end=2360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706758-66df16acd2560cca7782e7fe828e3c6a/thumbnail_1318000.jpg","/articles/6479191/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Citys-arts-and-culture-office-seeks-sustaining-support-artist-grants-and-film-incentives-in-2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479191-a778d78b40264ca0ab2ecffd71901064/orig.mp4?Expires=1770421702&Signature=c23zGdfmzcV4~DTQLzAo9gkgdarLhmFtL65dlv6FyYponHNrXTwCI1YNyx0Jvc3MxEQg0xB2Wy0PbbFJ0w6-PjiBnyzTwKlLZneJ-2L-EGGkVTple5I1oXHlwR4jEjLFI6yG9Cf6uvtHzHxhjg0GcINwy3atPS5aZwL-PWHfeR~G-5RE59CXzpe5TKay63PfgCDJSgI0Z095TYI-k2AA2tDJyRyhOFMUdeo8AdZZhGD-X2E-kMrAw3~p7WN6J6xDpWpjmm6Q1nxcXL~PKj15O5STE2jGg6AOR22iJ1zn2IgIk3ayDaLR3HYN3cBNNMdP1x4l9uGqILa71i4oQnmeCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crystal Jones, director of the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, presented the office’s FY2026 funding request on Sept. 2, emphasizing continued support for artist grants, public-art maintenance and programs that broaden access to the arts across the city.

Jones said the department currently manages about 600 pieces of public art and that roughly 65 percent of its arts funding goes directly to artists and nonprofit cultural organizations. The department proposed grants for 54 individual artists in 2026, with award amounts described in the presentation as ranging from $7,500 to $15,000 to support the creation of new work and community-accessible programming. Jones also outlined a multi-year public-art pipeline: the office plans about 50 public-art projects through 2028 and identified seven formal dedications already scheduled in multiple districts for 2026.

The arts presentation also flagged workforce and professional-development programming for artists, including workshops intended to help artists write larger grant proposals and develop business skills. Jones said the city will host national programs that reserve seats for San Antonio artists as part of artist-development partnerships.

On film and media, Jones and Visit San Antonio staff noted recent state legislative changes that expanded production incentives statewide. City staff said the presentation proposed leveraging those state incentives — including reimbursement-style programs that refund a portion of local production spending — to attract film and television production to San Antonio. The group noted the potential economic impact of production activity and said the state program can reimburse a percentage of qualified local spending over multi‑year cycles.

Councilmembers asked for district-level breakdowns of arts investments and attendance, and they requested a clearer explanation of how HOT‑eligible funds and other restricted revenues can and cannot be used for arts education and programming. Several members, including Councilmember Castillo and Councilmember Medina González, praised the department’s youth and community programming and asked staff to provide data showing how many district residents participate in subsidized arts programs.

Jones said the arts office will provide more detailed district and program-level metrics to the council, and she asked for continued collaboration with Visit San Antonio and local education and workforce programs to expand career pathways in arts and media production.

Ending: Councilmembers signaled support for sustaining arts grants and public art but asked staff to return with more granular metrics showing geographic distribution of benefits and clearer links between proposed expenditures and measurable outcomes.","Arts and culture officials told the council the department plans to keep staffing steady and expand grants and public-art programs in the 2026 budget; they highlighted artist stipends, public-art maintenance and new film-production opportunities tied to recent state incentives.","actionData","errors"]

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San Antonio officials pitch $91.9 million 2026 budget for convention centers; $23.3 million in capital work proposed

City’s arts and culture office seeks sustaining support, artist grants and film incentives in 2026 budget